Corn-planter.



No. 652,291. Patented June 26, I900. J. H. PRIESTLEY.

CORN PLANTER.

(Applicatidn filed Mar. 8, 1900., (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

By ammwfoz whim many ma rloams warns on, mom-urns" wnsuwcmm n. c.

UNITED STATES TENT FFIGEQ JOHN H. PRIESTLEY, OF CHEROKEE, IOWA, ASSIGNOROF ONE-HALF TO DAVID L. STORY, OF PETERSON, IOXVA.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,291 dated June 26,1900).

Application filed March 8,1900. Serial No. 7,856. (No model.)

To all whom itmay concern: 1 1

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. PRIESTLEY,a citizen of the United States,residing at Cherokee, in the county of Cherokee and State of Iowa, haveinvented anew and useful Corn- Planter, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in corn-planters in which I haveembodied simple and efiicient means for operating the dropper-slide andfor raising or lowering the driving mechanism, so as to throw themachine into and out of action.

One object of the invention is to provide a check-row mechanism forindicating the places where the corn is to be planted, said mechanismbeing yieldable automatically to obstructions in its path, and therebyminimize the tendency to breakage and injury of its parts.

A further object is to combine the checkrow mechanism with the drivingmechanism in such a way that the check-row devices will on the elevationof the driving devices to an inoperative position automatically assume aproper position to mark the ground on the instant that the machine isbrought into use. A gage or side marker is also associated with thecheck-row mechanism to guide the driver in the trips back. and forthacross the field, thus dispensing with the employment of a stretchedcheck-wire and the consequent side draft on the machine.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in thecourse of the subjoined description, and the novelty in the combinationsof devices and in the construction and arrangement of parts will bedefined by the claims. 1

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a corn-planter embodying theimprovements of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional elevation taken in the plane of the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the check row mechanism removedfrom the machine. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken longitudinallythrough the check-row mechanism. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional viewthereof. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the foot-treadle in operativerelation to the rock-shaft that lifts the front end of theplanter-frame, whereby the foottreadle may assist the hand-lever in theelevation of the frame.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like andcorresponding parts in each of' the several figures of the drawings.

The main carrying-axle 10 of the machine is supported by the wheels 11,which are provided with the peripheral gooves 12, so as to make thewheels serve the means for covering the seed after it shall have beendeposited. A crank-shaft 13 is arranged in a horizontal position infront of the axle and beneath the frame, said shaft being jonrnaled insuitable pillow-blocks, which are fastened to the under side of theframe. The furrowopening wheels 14 are made fast with the crank-shaftand arranged in position in line with the covering-wheels 11. Eachfurrowopening wheel is provided with reversed convexed faces, which meetat the periphery of the wheel, so as to produce a cutting edge 15, andeach wheel is furthermore provided with a counterpoise or weight 16, thelatter being disposed in an eccentric position on the wheel and theweights of the two wheels being correspondingly arranged thereon, thepurpose of which will hereinafter appear. The seed-dropping bar 17 is inthe form of a slide working in suitable guides on the frame and disposedin operative relation to the hoppers. (Not shown.) These hoppers may beof any suitable type known to those skilled in the art, or they may beof any preferred construction. The dropper bar or slide is provided witha loop or keeper 18, adapted to be engaged by a finger 22, which issecured to the upper extremity of a vertically-disposed rock-shaft 19,the latter being journaled in a suitable bearing or bearings near therear part of the frame and preferably between the wheels 11. The lowerend of this rock-shaft is bent or otherwise provided with a crankarm 20,to which is connected the rear end of a pitman 21, that extendsforwardly to the crank of the shaft 13,said pitman being looselyconnected to the crank. The crank-shaft and the furrow-wheels constitutethe means for operating the'seed-dropping mechanism and the check-rowmechanism, and it will thus be seen that said axle and wheels form thedrivto the frame.

draft-bar 23 is secured centrally to the frame for its front end toproject in advance of the frame, thus making provision for theattachment of a do ubletree adapted to be hitched to the horses. Certainof the bars of the frame of the machine, which is indicated by thenumeral 24, are extended beyond the rear axle to receive and support ascraper-bar 25, the latter having the shoes 25, adapted to frictionallyengage with the carrying-wheels 11 and to scrape the dirt from theperipheral grooves thereof.

Firmly secured to the front end of the frame is an upstanding bracket26, through which loosely passes the tongue or pole 27, the latter beingpivotally mounted in the bracket by a transverse pivotal bolt 28. Therear end of this tongue or pole is slidably confined in avertically-disposed guide 32, which is made fast to the machine-frame,and a stirrup 29 is fastened rigidly to this rear end of the tongue orpole, so as to project beyond the guide 32. A lever 30 is fulerumed in asuitable way on the machine-frame at a point in front of the axle, saidlever being provided with a crankarm 31, which is loosely and slidablyfitted in the stirrup 29 of the pivoted pole. The lever carries a latchor detent 33, which is adapted to engage with a toothed sector 34,fastened By moving the lever in a forward direction the crank-arm isdepressed to turn the pole on its pivot 28, and as this pole has itsfront end supported in a neck-yoke the elevation of the rear end of thepole operates to raise the front end of the machine, so as to lift thewheels 14 above the ground, and thereby throw the driving mechanism outof operative position. It is evident that the lever may be locked by itsdetent in fixed engagement with the sector to maintain the furrow-wheelsin their raised positions, and thus enable the machine to be transportedto or from the field; but the reverse adjustment of the lever lowers thefront end of the machine for the furrow-wheels to rest upon the ground.

The crank-shaft which drives the seed-dropping mechanism is also adaptedfor the operation of one or more check-row mechanisms, because the endsof this shaft 13 are extended for proper distances beyond thefurrow-wheels 14 to receive said mechanism or mechanisms. It is evidentthat two of these check-row devices may be mounted on the projectingends of the crank-shaft, (one on each side of the machine,) so that oneor the other of said devices will be in position for operation as themachine is driven back and forth across the field. If, however, a singlecheck-row device is employed, it becomes necessary for the driver onreaching one edge of the field and before starting on the returntrip todetach the check-row device from one end of the crank-shaft and clampthe same to the other end of the crank-shaft. This check-row device (oreach of them) includes a hollow or tubular shaft 35, which is providedat one end with a clamp 36, the latter being in the form of one or morebinding-screws. It is evident that the inner end of the tubular shaftmay be readily slipped over the projecting end of the crank-shaft, andthe clamp 36 may then be operated to make the tubular shaft fast withthe crank-shaft, whereby the check-row device is -held firmly on thecrankshaft to rotate therewith and at the same time provision is madefor the easy disengagement of the tubular shaft and the crankshaft forthe purpose of reversing the checkrow device from one end of thecrank-shaft to the other in case a single check-row device is employed.

The hollow shaft carries two cross-heads 37 38, which are spaced aproper distance apart on said shaft and are secured firmly thereto, andthese cross-heads are provided with the stems 39. Each cross-head hastwo of these stems arranged to project on opposite sides of the shaft,and the stems of one cross-head are parallel to the stems of the othercrosshead. A pair of pressure-bars 4O 41 is slidably fitted on the stemsof the cross-heads, said bars being disposed on opposite sides of theshaft and parallel to the axis thereof, whereby the stems are adapted tosupport the bars and to limit the same to slidable movement in pathsradial to the axis of the shaft. In the detailed construction of eachmarkerbar shown by the drawings I have shown the same as consisting of asingle flat bar having its ends twisted for a quarter-turn to providethe cars 42, which are perforated to receive the stems, the ends of saidstems being headed or upset to form the stops 43, that limit theslidable movement of the bars under the pressure of the springs 44. Inlieu of heading the ends of the stem suitable stop-pins may be attachedto the stems for the purpose of preventing the bars from working off thestems, and these bars may be otherwise constructed than by twisting theends thereof in order to slidably fit the same on the stems.

As the hollow shaft is clamped fast wit the crank-shaft the entirecheck-row attachmentis adapted to rotate with the crank-shaft when themachine is in motion, and the marker-bars are thus presented inpositions to indent or press a line upon the soil. These bars indent theground twice in every complete revolution of the shaft and thefurrowwheels, so as to indicate the places where the corn is planted inthe furrows. The bars being slidably fitted on the stems are held intheir operative positions by the pressure of the springs, each of whichis fitted loosely on one stem, so as to have one end of said stem seatedagainst the cross-head and the other end in active relation to the bar.In case the bar encounters a stone or other obstruction in its path saidbar is free'to slide on the stems, and thereby compress the springs toovercome injury to the check-row device; but when the bar clears thisobstruction the springs operate to return the bar to its workingposition.

The shaft 35, which carries the check-row device, is extended beyond theouter crosshead for the reception of a marker-wheel 47, the same beingproperlymounted on the shaft so as to form a crease or line in theground, which assists the operator in driving the machine in a straightline across the field on the return trip.

The purpose of the counterpoisewveights 16 on the furrow-wheels is tomove the crank shaft automatically into a position for the check-rowdevice to assume a perpendicular position when turning the machine atthe end of the furrow, whereby the marker and checkrow devices areadjusted when starting back across the field to indicate the properplaces for planting corn.

Changes may bemade in the form and proportion of some of the partsfalling within the scope of the appended claims, while their essentialfeatures are retained and the spirit of the invention is embodied. HenceI do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts asshown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Under some circumstances I have found it desirable to employ afoot-treadle to assist the hand-lever and the rock-shaft in theelevation of the front part of the frame which carries the plantingmechanisms, and in Fig. 6 of the drawings 1 have shown one embodiment ofmeans for attaining this object. The treadle l8 is in the form of anelongated bail having a looped end 49, arranged to fit under the crank31 of the rock-shaft. This treadle is fulcrumed at points intermediateof its length on the short arms 50, which are suitably supported on orfastened to a part of the planterframe. At the rear end of the loopedtreadlelever are provided the foot-rests 51, on which the operator mayplace one or both of his feet for the purpose of depressing one end ofthe lever and raising the other end of said lever, so as to assist inlifting the crank of the rockshaft for the elevation of theplanter-frame.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. A check-rowattachment for planters comprising a shaft, a marking-wheel supportingits outer end, and a series of radiallyyielding,longitudinally-disposedmarker-bars carried by the shaft.

2. A check-row attachment for planters comprising a shaft, amarker-wheel supporting its outer end, a series oflongitudinallydisposed radially-yielding marker-bars carried by theshaft, and means for detachably connecting said shaft to the shaft ofthe planter.

3. In a corn-planter, the combination with a driving-shaft, of acheck-row device comprising a shaft clamped to the driving-shaft, at oneend, a marking-wheel supporting the outer end of the check-row shaft,cross-heads having the guide-stems, and spring-repressed bars slidablyfitted on the guide-stems, substantially as described.

4. In a corn-planter, a check-row device comprising a shaft, means atone end of the shaft for effecting its attachment to the driving-shaftof the corn planter, a markingwheel supporting the opposite end of thecheck-row shaft, cross-heads fast with the shaft and in spaced relationto each. other, guide-stems projecting from the cross-heads, barsslidably fitted on the stems, and springs seated against the cross-headsand the bars, substantially as described.

5. In a corn-planter, the combination with a driving-shaft, of a shaftclamped thereto and extending outwardly therefrom, a checkroW devicecarried by said extended shaft and having automatically-yieldable bars,and a marker carried by the extended shaft beyond the check-row device,substantially as described.

6. In a planter, the combination with a frame and shaft, ofcounterpoised furrowopening wheels carried by the shaft, a checkrowshaft detachably connected to the plantershaft, a marker-wheel carriedat the outer end of the check-row shaft, and a series ofradially-yielding marker-bars carried. by the check-row shaftintermediate of the markerwheel and the planter-shaft.

7. In a corn-planter, the combination with a main axle, of a frameprovided with an upstanding bracket and a guide, a tongue fulcrulned inthe bracket and extended loosely through the guide, a stirrup secured tothe tongue at its rear extremity, a lever fulcrumed' on the frame andhaving a crank loosely connected with the stirrup, and a treadle havingthe form of an elongated bail fitting under the crank and designed to beemployed alternately with the lever or simultaneously therewith forelevating and depressing the tongue.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing'as my own I have hereto aiiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. PRIESTLEY.

WVitnesses:

G. O. ALLIsoN, J. E. ALLISON.

